Tiltable steering wheel



Aug. 311, ma 1,598,494

J. A. MURPHEY TILTABLE STEERING WHEEL Filed August 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: JAMES A" MuRP EX Aug. 31 19260 J. A. MURPHEY TILTABLE STEERING WHEEL Filed August 5, 1921 5 sheeats Sheet 3 INVENTOR:

$4455 fl. I Max/ 126);

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Aug. my 19%,. 1598 494 .19. A. MUFEFHEV TILTABLE STEERING WHEEL Filed August 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V ENTOR:

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J. A. MURPHEY TILTABLE STEERING WHEEL Filed August 5, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 r to, M la a if al JAMES A. IiC'IURlZI-IEY, GE GERI aAIa TOW FST, ?E1 I1 TSYLVANIA.

TlL'lABLE STEEHZNG "ii/"HEEL.

Application filed. August 5 My invention relates to an automobile steerin wheel caoable of hemp tilted with s l s is mounted, so to facilitate the in and of the operator with respe the chautleni"s seat. lt is characteri the form of my invention hereinaiter described; that said wheel is hirg'edly connected vi-h its hub and the latt provided with locking n'ieans, and movement of said loc ring means to permit the wheel to be steered causes said locking means to lock the wheel so that it cannot be tilted, and movement of said. locl cing means to fr e the wheel so that it may tiltezl locks the steering shaft so that the vehicle cannot h steered. The advantages of that arrange ment are that the chauffeur cannot tilt the wheel to get out until he has locked said respect to the steering shaft upon which it wheel so that it will not be turned.

ills hereinafter described, the lot ng means are adapted for det 'ahrblv i idly connecting the stccrirg shaft with the bearing tube inelosing ii-Ll shaft, so asto prevent the vehicle from being steereu; and preferably so constructed and arlud that the front wheels of the vehicle may be turned at right angles to their normal position, agaii a curb or similar obstruction berore thus locking the vehicle, to prevent the latter from being tower. Such locking means includes a loclr body, preferably of a. pin key ty which may be permanently retaii'ied in connection wi h the vehicle, but alternately in two p "sitions, in both of which it is locked, but in only one of which it locks the vehicle; in the other position, it merely locks the wheel against tilting move ment upon its shaft.

My present invention is of the general ela claimed in my Letters Patent of the United i";.1tes No. 1,156,615 dated October 151, 19153; No. 1,336,206 dated January 18, 1..21 and No. 1,367,200 dated llebruary l, 199i, wherein the locking means are roole with the steering wheel.

have found it .:on-.*enient to illustrate my invention with refr ence to an ex bodiirot thereof in conjunction w'th a steering *hee and its appurtenances, of the n'esent l type, and to adapt the locking roams to deachably engage the cover of the l rear case which is a stationary fix- 1e top of the steering column. Such are screw threaded and, ordinarily,

, loot.

Serial No. 488,038.

are removable at any time by merely rotatthem. However, the form of my invention hereinafter described includes detent crew means which prevent the removal of aid cover when the device is locked to pre vent steering; capable of preventing the vehicle from being steered but also prevents removal of said cover, when locked.

The form of my invention hereinafter described is designed to be sold as an ac ewsory, comprising a complete steering wheel and internal gear case cover, adapted to be substituted for the automobile steering wheel and internal gear case cover of an ordinary automobile of the Ford type. However, my invention includes the various novel features of construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. l is a plan view of an automobile steering wheel, convenie tly embodying my invention.

Fig. H is a vertical sectional view of said wheel and its appurtenances, taken on the line H, H in Fig. l.

Ill is a vertical sectional view of said w reel and its appurtenances taken on the HI, All in Figs. l and H showing the n rmal position of said wheel in full lines the idle position thereof in dash lines.

1V a fragmentary plan view of a steering wheel and its appurtenances embodying a modified form of my invention; :dl jl wheel being locked so that it cannot be tilted but so that it can be steered.

l? V is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. IV.

Fig. Vl is a left hand side elevation of .'d structure shown in Figs. IV and V.

Fig. VII is a side elevation of the structure shown. in Fig. VI but with the locking means shifted so that said wheel can be tilted but cannot be used to steer the vehicle.

Fig. VIII is a vertical sectional View similar to Fig. Ill but including the gear case and contents of the Ford type.

lfieferring to the form of my invention shown in lf i;' -s. l, H and III; the steering wheel comprises the spider frame 1 of cast metal provided with the wooden rim 2. Said spider frame is normally rigidly connected with the hub casting 3 by the pivot bolt 5 which extends through the bolt hole 6 in said spider frame and the slot 7 in the bracket 8 which is in unitary relation with said hub so that said device is not only casting 3; said bolt 5 having its head fitted to slide freely, without turning, in the aocket 11 of said hub adjoining said slot 7.

aid bolt is provided with the wing nut 12 arranged to normally rigidly hold it in the position shown in Fig. 111. In that position, the hasp 14 extends downwardly over said hub casting 3 at the front thereof normally presented. to the operator; the lock opening; 15 in said hasp being engaged by the lock body 16 which is mounted to reciprocate in the lock socket 17 in said hub and is prevented from turning therein by the set screw 19 which extends through the side of the lock casing 20, as indicated in Fig. i, into engagement with the slot 21 in the side of said lock body 16, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. Ill. Said lock, which is conveniently of the pin tumbler type is arranged to be controlled by the key 23 which operates the locking bolt 2% which is arranged to be projected and retracted transversely to the axis of said lock socket 17 in said hub Said locking bolt 24 is adapted to selectively engage the locking bolt recesses 25 and 26 in said lock casing 20, which is in unitary relation with said hub 23 as shown.

It is to be understood that the construc tion and arrangement above described is such that said steering wheel, including the spider frame 1 and its rim 2, is normally retained in concentric relation with the shaft hole 28 in said hub 3, but is released and free to be pivoted on said clamping bolt 5 when said lock body is thrust inwardly; so that said wheel may be swung out of the way when thus released. That to say; by loosening said wing nut 12, and unlocking said lock body 1.6, by retracting its locking bolt l from the locking; bolt recess 25, and thri ting said lock body 16 inwardly and securing it by projecti said lOClIl bolt into the locking bolt recess 26; said wheel 1 luiwarc'lly i released so that it may be tilted at the front, to wit, the edge thereof presented to the operator, until said hasp 14 is above said hub 8. Said wieel may then be pushed away from the operat r with its clamping pivot bolt 5 following down said slot 7 in the l racket 8, until the axis of said clamping bolt is at right angles to the aXis of said hub 3, indicated in Fig. 111, wherein said wheel is shown in dash lines not only thus tilted but also turned on said pivot bolt 5 so as to present upwardly, in such idle position, that portion of the steering wheel which is normally most remote from the operator. It may be observed that such turning movement of said steering wheel causes it to project upwardly from said bolt 5, to a less extent than if allowed to remain unturned after it is tilted.

The form of my invention above described with reference to Fi s. I, II and III is adapted to be sold an automobile accessory. srnstitue for the original steering wheel of a Ford car. As shown in Fig. Vlll such a car is provided with the drive pinion shaft 30 having a key 31 for engagement with the wheel hub 3, so that said shaft may be turned by said wheel. Accidental displacement of said wheel hub from said shaft is prevented by the cap nut 32 which en ages the screw thread at the top of said shaft. dome 34 at the center of said spider frame 1 normally covers said cap nut, as shown in Fig. Vlll. Said shaft 30 has, in unitary relation therewith. the pinion 85, and its lower end is journaled in the drive pinion shaft bushing 3'? which is rotatable in the internal gear case 38, which is normally stationary in the automobile. Said shaft 30 is also journaled in the sleeve flange 39 on the gear c2 cover 41. Although said cover 41 is adapU ed to be connected with said. case 38 by the screw thread 42, its rotation and disengagement are normally prevented by the two screws 43 which extend through said cover (t1 into threaded engagement with said case 38. Said drive pinion shaft bushing 37 has, at its upper end, three arms 42:5 carryin respective stud shafts 4-6 parallel with said shaft 3-( The planetary pinions as are mounted upon said stud shafts 4-6, in mesh with said pinion 36 and in mesh wi h the ii'iternal it), which latter formed in unitary relation with said case 38.

Said sleeve 3.), which is thus held stationary in the vehicle and upon which said hub 3 is journaied, has a circumferential series of lock recesses which may be selectively engaged by said locir body 16; so that, when said lock b dy is thrust inwardly, as above described, to release the steering wheel, comprising said spi e frame 1 and rim 2, so that they may be t' ted, said hub is locked in connection with said stationary gear casing 38 so that said hub cannot be turned and, consequently, the vehicle cannot be steered, until said loci; body 16 is withdrawn fro the recesses 50, into position to engage said hasp 14:, as above described.

Although I prefer to embody my inven tion in a steering wheel having the capacity to tilt and turn upon the clamping bolt 5 as above described; essential features of my invention may be embodied in a simpler form of structure; for instance, such as I have shown in Figs. IV to VIII inclusive.

In he form of my invention shown in Figs. IV to VH1 inclusive, the wheel spider 51, which is part of a steering wheel such as above described, provided with a rim such as the rim 2, is pivotally connected with the primarily separate hub 53, by the pivot 54 having its axis transverse to the axis of saic shaft 30. l find it convenient to drive said pivot 54: tightly in s id hub and to provide said spider 51 with lugs 56, in the llO liiil spaced relation shown in Fig. IV, to receive the ends of said pivot and tilt thereon. Said spider 51 has the hasp 58 normally overhanging the lock casing 59, which is in unitary relation with said hub and provided with the socket (30 for the lock 61 having the transversely extending locking bolt 62=- =which is adapted to alternately engage the locking bolt recesses 63 and 6 1- to respectively hold the said lock body 61 in the position shown in Fig. VH1 and in the position shown in Fig. IV. It may 'ie observed that when said hub 53 is locked in the position shown in Fig. VIII, and thus prevented from turning, it not only prevents the steering shaft 30 from being turned to steer the vehicle but also covers, with its lateral flanges 63, the screw holes 6i and the screws 66 which are fitted therein for engagement with the in ternal gear casing 38; which screws are indicated in dotted lines in Figs. IV and V.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs, I to H1 inclusive; the hasp 14 has wing flanges which extend, continuously therewith, upon opposite sides of the lock casing in said hub 3. However, in the form of my invention shown in Figs. IV to VIII inclusive I find it convenient to provide the lock casing 59, which is in unitary relation with the hub 53, with lateral lugs 68 to bear against respective wing flanges 69 on said spider 51; said wing flanges 69 being in spaced. relation with said hasp 58 so as to facilitate the machining of the bearing surfaces of said flanges 69 by means of a pair of coupled milling cutters.

Although I prefer to provide a stationary hearing, such as the sleeve 39, with a series of lock recesses such as indicated at 50 in its perimeter, to be selectively engaged by the locking means described, of course, said locking means only engages one of such recesses when the structure is locked against steering movement. Therefore, it is unnecessary to provide more than one such recess, unless it is desired to lock the steering mechanism of the vehicle with the front wheels thereof in selectively different positions. However, the capacity to thus lock the wheels is desirable for they may be thus turned either to the right or to the left against the street curb, to prevent the vehicle thus locked from being towed. [is far as I am aware, it is broadly new to provide a steering wheel which may be turned, relatively to its hub, to shift the wheel from operative concentric relation with its hub to inoperative eccentric relation with its hub in the manner exemplified with reference to Figs. 1, II and III. Moreover I believe it to be broadly new to provide a tiltable steering wheel with locking means arranged to alternately lock the wheel against operative movement of the steering mechanism when the wheel is free to tilt, and lock the wheel against tilting movement when it is free for steering movement. The advantage of the latter feature of my invention is that the operator is compelled to lock the steering mechanism in inoperative position in order to free the steering wheel to facilitate his egress and ingress with respect to the chauffeurs seat.

Therefore I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essen .l features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a stationary p t case; of a cover for said 1r case; ing shaft journaled in said case and cover; a sleeve flange on said cover having in its perimeter a circumferential series of lock recesses; a wheel hub keyed on said steering shaft and fitted to turn on said sleeve flange, having a lock casing with a cylindrical socket adapted to selectively register with said lock recesses, and having a locking bolt recess with its axis transverse to the axis of said socket; a key lock, having a cylindrical body fitted to reciprocate in said lock socket and to be thrust into said recesses, having a locking bolt, arranged to be projected and withdrawn by a key, to engage and disengage said locking bolt recess; whereby said wheel hub and said shaft may be locked against rotation and freed for rotation, in accordance with the position of said lock body; said wheel hub having, diametrically opposite to said lock casing, a downwardly curved bracket with an undercutslot in a plane radial to the axis of ca shaft; a clamping bolt extendi g through said slot and having a head engaged in the undercut portion of said bracket, whereby said bolt is prevented from turning; a nut on said bolt; a steering wheel normally carried by said hub, in concentric relation with said shaft, and including a spider having a a clamping bolt hole in eccentric relation to the axis of said spider and pivotally engaging said clamping bolt; said spider having a pendent hasp flange diametrically opposite to said clamping bolthole; said hasp flange having a radial opening arranged to register with the cylindrical soc ct in said hub and to receive said lock body when the latter is withdrawn from engagen'icnt in the look recess of said sleeve; whereby said wheel is normally retained, in concentric relation with said shaft by said lock body, but released and free to be pivoted on said clamping bolt when said lock body is engaged with said sleeve; so that said wheel may be swung out of the way when thus released.

2. The combination with a stationary gear case; of a cover for said gear case; a steerl ll (ill in shatt iournaled in said cover; a sleeve flange on said cover De ts wheel hub carrier r fitted to turn on said sleeve loclc ca ing with a socket ada .i With said lock recess, and rag bolt recess with 211x15; he axis of said SOClIi; a he a body lit-ted to reciprocate i :et

and to be thrust into said recess having a locking bolt, arranged to be operated by a key, to engage and bolt recess; \vhereby halt may be loclzed aeainst s on and treed for rotation, r1 accordance with the 1 f! fe 1 l? lw l l posit on 0 said 1.0x oo vi uaeei we having d rvnwardly i ith a slot in a plane :aaial to J of .;111(l shaft; a clanipin bolt said sloo and having wh reby s2 id l in turiinga net wheel normally carri' 'i relation with spider having a centric relation to the axis ()1 pivotally engaging; said cl spider having; a pendent age with a radial ope arranged to register with sa d socket in said hub and to r ceive said Withdrawn it; said loi'li body when the latter from engagement in the r sleeve; whereby said Wl tained in concentric :ela'lby said locl; body, l ut r be pivoted on id clamping; bolt locx bod; is engaged with sad s that said vvheel may be swung c. t 0 We when thus released.

21. The combination witl iry gear case; of a cover tor said a steern s it iournaled in sai s i l cover; a sleeve flan J l ring in its perimeter a l hub carried bv said steel ii 0 e l to turi u d to low; whereby said v er ted bv a s 5 J1" and sale Sillll'e may tron ind -freed or "-oi'ition, in accordance with the position of said lock body; said \vhrel hub haringg a do. ardly curved bracket with a slot in a pl d l to the axis of said shatt' a claim. extentin in said s ot 2* lit-racket:

steering" \rlie d hub in 1 t i conce itric relati and including; a sp clamping bolt saic spider having a pendent has) flange Wild a radial opening arranged to register with said socket in said hub and to receive a locl: body when the latter is Withdrawn from engagement in the lock recess of saic sleeve; whereby said Wheel normally retained in concentric relation with said sharitby said. lock body but released and free to be pivoted on said clamping bolt when said lock body is engaged with said sleeve; so that said Wheel may be swung out oi? the Way when thus released.

4:. in automobile steering- Wheel having a separable hub; a clamping bolt connectin said Wheel and hub; said cl ainping bolt slot in said hub for move 1 z .L, being late-ll in a lnent in a radial plane from a position parallel with the axis of said Wheel to a posi- J v ion at right zngz'les tieretr; whereby said 1 may as pivota y tilted with respect id hub, from operative to inoperative ion; a hasp on said Wheel, arranged to n rn ally overhang sale hub; a lock socket in said hub; a loclc oody fitted to recipro cats in said hub sociret to and from engagement with said hasp; an axial bearing for said hub including a normally stationary sleeve ha 'ing rece a in its perimeter ar- -'ed to receive the inner end ot said lock and a key fitted to said lock; whereby lock inay le drawn outwardly seid Wheel in connection with said hub, ageinent with said hasp, and be thrust lly to disei gage said hasp and engage so that ino oi said lock 1'11 to prevent rotation if hub on are trees sad wheel to be ti ted out v, and reverse movement of said ee said hub for rotation engages and prevents said Wheel from be- 1 said 1 automobile steering Wheel having is hub; a clamping; bolt connecting loci and hub; said clamping bolt be- V d in said hub; whereby said Wheel ie pivotally tilted with respect to said from operative to inoperative position; p on s: id wheel arranged to norn ally 1111111 said hub; a loclc socket in said c nub; a lock body fitted to reciprocate in y said hub soeliiet to 'l vtroin engagement with said hasp; an axial bear' for said l b iiitfllll in; a normally station 1y sleeve lcess in its perimeter arranged to r c i said lock body; and

Where y said lock to secure said aid hub by en- .nd be thrust in iasp and engage i so tr i it of said lock to 2 revent rotation 01 said hub e frees said wl eel to be tilted and reverse movement of loo said lock to free said hub for rotation eusaid hesp and prevents said wheel from being tilted.

(3. An automobile steering wheel having a s parable hub; a pivotconnecting said wheel and hub: whereby said wheel may be pivotally tilted with respect to said hub, from operative to inoperative position;

a hasp on said wheel, arranged to nor-- mally overhang said hub; a lock socket in said hub; a lock body fitted to reciprocate in said hub socket, to and from engagement with said hasp; an axial bearing for said hub, including a normally stationary sleeve havin a recess in its periineter arranged to receive the inner end of said lock oody and a lzey fitted to said 1001;; whereby said lock may be drawn outwardly to secure said wheel in connection with suit hub, by engagement with said hasp and be thrust inwardly to disengage said hasp and engage said sleeve; so that move merit of said lock to position to prevent rotation of said hub on said sleeve trees said wheel to be tilted out of the way, and reverse movement of said lock to free said hub for rotation engages said hasp and prevents said wheel from being tilted.

7. fan automobile steering wheel having a separable hub; pivot connecting said wheel. and hub; whereby said wheel may be pivotnlly tilted with resp-ct to said hub, from operative to inoperative p sition; a hasp on said wheel, arranged to normally overhang said hub; a lock socket in said hub; a lock body timed to reciprocate in said hub socket, to and i'roni engagement with said hasp; an axial bearing for said hub, having; a re eess arranged to receive the end of said lock body; and a key arranged to operate said lock; whereby said lock be shifted in one direction to secure said wheel in connection witii said hub, by engagement with said hasp, and be shifted in the opposite direc tion to disengage said hssp and engage said axial hearing; so that nioven'ient of said lock to position to prevent rota ion of said hub on said bearing frees said wheel to be tilted. out of the way, and reverse movement of said locl: to tree said hub for rotation enhasp and prevents said wheel ltec.

ng i

8. automobile steering wheel having a separable hub; a clamping bolt pivotally connecting said wheel and hub; said clampbolt being fitted in a slot in said hub r. n inovecient in a radial plane from posit' rallel with the axis of said wheel to r ht angles thereto; whereby be pivotally tilted with reroni operative to inoperarsp on said wheel, arranged ang said hub; a lock socket oclr body titted to reciproin said socket to and from :ai-;: beep; and a key fitted iereby said lock may be iy to secure said wheel in a with said hub, by engagement hasp, and be thrust inwardly to engage said hasp.

It. steering wheel having eparable hub; a pivot connecting said wheel and lub; whereby said wheel niay be pi otail witl respect to said hub, ttien s to inoperative posit-ion; a h( wheel, arranged to normally ohub; a locl: socket in said ha i =l body fitted to reciprocate in said soczet to and from engagement with said h ,3); and a key fitted to said lock; v; rhj'QlE mid lock may be drawn outwardly t e id wheel in connection with said t with said hasp, and

to disengage said hasp. ering wheel having connecting; said wheel and I, aid wheel may be pivotally spect to said hub, from operativ to inoper ve position; a hasp on said wheel; a loelr carried by said hub, arranged said beep; and a lrey for said lock;

loelr may be operated to sewheel in connection with said hub, by engagement with said hasp.

in tirnony whereof, I have hereunto signed i y name at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this 30th day of July, 19.21.

JAMES- A. MURPHEY.

i, i wi l tes 

